One piece plastic key holder



Feb. 9, 1960 H. GOLDMAN ONE PIECE PLASTIC KEY HOLDER Filed Dec. 10, 1957 l libnk 1 vv INVENTOR.

United States Patent ONE PIECE PLASTIC KEY HOLDER Harold Goldman, Bronx, NY.

Application December 10, 1957, Serial No. 701,888

2 Claims. (Cl. 70-458) This invention relates to key holders and an important object of the invention is to provide an all-plastic onepiece key holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key holder with a flat plate-like body susceptible of being shaped to simulate the bodies of various articles of manufacture, such as telephone sets, automobiles and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key holder with a fiat body having smooth surfaces capable of receiving advertising indicia.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a key holder that lies flat in the pocket or container and that takes up a minimum of space.

It is also proposed to provide a plastic key holder that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, susceptible of mass production and is pleasing in appearance.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a front view of a key holder embodying my invention, shown in spread out condition.

Fig. 2 is a top edge view thereof showing the key holder looped in operative condition and supporting a key.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the key holder in looped operative condition, the key of Fig. 2 being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the modified form of Fig. 5 showing keys in supported position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Fig. 1 there is shown a key holder made in accordance with the invention and designated generally 10. This key holder is molded of suitable plastic material and may be colored any desired color to enhance the appearance of the holder.

Sheet plastic material, such as one of the vinyl resins, for example,'iseminently adapted for such use because of its inexpensiveness, the ease with which it may be caused to assume desired configuration, and the comparative ease with which it may be ornamented or colored. The holder comprises a flat body 11 of any desired configuration, preferably shaped to simulate an article of manufacture. The body illustrated in Fig. 1 is substantially rectangular and in substantial simulation of a telephone handset as suggested by the shape thereof and the surface markings indicated at 12. The body is relatively thin and flexible, being adapted to be readily bent in all planes by the fingers of the user and accordingly constitutes a convenient handle.

An elongated, thin, narrow, flexible strap 13 is formed integrally with the body 11 and extends from one of the "ice top corners at one end of the body. The rear surface of the strap as viewed in Fig. 1 is fiat and the front surface thereof is slightly curved as shown in Fig. 4. The outer free end of the strap terminates in a crosspiece 14 that extends beyond both long edges of the strap. The strap is preferably approximately twice the length of the body.

A T-shaped slot 16 is formed in the body adjacent the juncture of the strap with the body with the slot so disposed that its long section 17 is aligned substantially with the bottom long edge of the strap as viewed in Fig. 1 and the short cross section 18 of the slot is disposed perpen dicularly to the strap. The long section 17 of the slot is substantially the same length as the crosspiece 14 of the strap and the cross section 18 is slightly shorter.

In use, the strap 13 is threaded through opening 19 in the head of a key 20 as shown in Fig. 2. The strap is then given a quarter turn downwardly as viewed in Fig. 1 and its free end inserted from the rear of the body through the long section 17 of the T-slot 16 so as to bring the crosspiece 14 to the front of the body forwardly of the slot. The strap is then turned back to normal untwisted condition and pulled rearwardly to bring the crosspiece 14 across the long section 17 of the slot and into alignment with the cross section 18. The crosspiece 14 is longer than the cross section 18 so that the strap is interlocked in position by the crosspiece 14, with the edge walls of the T-slot.

The major area of the front surface of the body 11 is smooth so that advertising indicia such as indicated at 21 may be readily printed thereon.

The modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 differs from the form of Figs. 1 to 4, in that the slot 16 in the body 11 is continued for substantially the length of the body and is formed with four transverse sections or notches, end transverse sections 25 and 26 and intermediate transverse sections 27 and 28, equally spaced along the intermediate portion 18 of the elongated slot 16'. When using this form of the invention, the free end 14' of the strap 13 may be inserted into any one of the transverse sections, in order to adjust the length of the looped portion of the strap. When the free end is inserted through the end section 26, the keys 20 will be positioned rearwardly of the body 11' and upon drawing up of the strap as shown in Fig. 6, the keys will be drawn against the rear of the body thereby holding said keys against swinging and rattling.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. An all-plastic, one-piece key holder having a flat substantially rectangular-shaped body with an elongated, narror, thin, flexible strap, substantially rectangular in cross section, extending from one corner thereof, said body having a T-shaped slot adjacent the juncture of the strap and body, said slot being so disposed that the long section thereof is substantially in alignment with one of the long edges of the strap and the cross section thereof is perpendicular to the strap, said strap having a crosspiece on the extremity of its free end, said strap being twistable so as to align its crosspiece with the long section of the T-slot for insertion therethrough and so as to untwist the same after insertion for interlocking with the edges of the T-slot.

2. An all-plastic, one-piece key holder having a flat substantially rectangular-shaped body with an elongated,

narrow, thin, flexible strap extending from one corner thereof, and means for releasably attaching the free end of the strap to the body including a crosspiece on the extreme free endof the strap, said body having an elongated slot extending from a. point adjacent the juncture of the strap with the body, said ,slot having spaced transverse notches at its ends and, intermediate its ends for selectively receiving said crosspieee of the strap ininterlocking rela-' tion.

References Cited in the file of is patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Caley Feb. 6, 1934 Luce J; Sept. 25, 1934 Crapster May 13, 1952 Bacon May 28, 1957 Olson Dec. 17, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS v 

